§ 167.3 Marking of parcels.

FROM: JOC SMITH S01 WASHINGTON AVE WILKESVILLE,3, NY.

Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed

SPECIAL HANDLING

§ 167.4 Forwarding.

Parcels undeliverable as originally addressed and forwarded to the addressee at a new address are given special handling without requiring an additional special handling fee. Additional postage at the regular third- or fourth-class rate is collected on delivery.

§ 168.2 Class of mail to which applicable. Any mailable matter of no intrinsic value on which postage at the first-class rate has been paid will be accepted as certified mail. This does not exclude articles of a nonnegotiable character and other similar matter which would involve a cost of duplication if lost or destroyed. The mail may be sent by air on payment of the required postage. Special delivery services are available on payment of the prescribed fees. Pentalty and franked mail may be accepted as certified mail if the fee is prepaid. Official matter of the postal service may be sent as certified mail without payment of the fee. Business reply mail must be fully prepaid with postage and fees.

(a) Payment of fees and postage. The fee and postage may be paid by ordinary postage stamps, meter stamps, or by permit imprints.

(b) Points to which mailable. Certified mail may be addressed for delivery only

(1) In the United States, its territories and possessions.

(2) In the Canal Zone.

(3) Through Army, Air Force (APO) and Navy (FPO) post offices.

(4) Through the United Nations, N.Y. post office.

(c) Where to mail. Customers may mail certified mail at the post office, branch, or station or give it to a rural carrier. It may also be deposited in mail drops in post offices, street letterboxes, nonpersonnel rural stations and branches, or any other receptacles for first-class mail, provided the specific directions in paragraph (d) of this section are followed.

(d) How to mail. Obtain blank certified mail coupons, Forms 3800, Receipt for Certified Mail (no charge) at the post office or from rural mail carriers. Also obtain blank return receipt forms if needed. Observe the following procedure:

(1) Enter on the receipt portion of the certified mail coupon the name and complete address of the person or firm to whom the mail is addressed.

(2) If return receipt is wanted, check block on the mailing receipt to show the fee and endorse the article on the address side near the certified mail endorsement "Return Receipt Requested" or "Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered." The mailer must enter the certified mail number on the return receipt card, address it to himself, and attach it to the back of small envelopes and on front of pack

ages and large envelopes if it will not cover the address. The name of the person to whom the return receipt is to be furnished must be the same as that of the sender as shown on the certified article. If the mailer desires that the return receipt show the address where the article was delivered, he must check the block at the top of the form.

(3) Attach to the envelope sufficient postage stamps to pay for the certified nail fee, first-class postage, return receipt fee, or special delivery fee.

(4) If a postmarked sender's receipt is desired, the sender must attach the certified mail sticker to the address side of the article and present the article and the completed coupon to the postal employee. If requested to do so, the postal employee will show on the receipt the time the article was accepted for mailing. If given to a rural carrier, he will return the postmarked receipt to the customer.

(5) If a postmarked receipt is not desired, the sender must attach the "Certified Mail" sticker to the address side of the article, detach his receipt, and mail the article. He must mark his receipt to show the date.

(6) If the sender desires to restrict delivery of certified mail to the addressee or someone named by him in writing, he must endorse the mail "Deliver to Addressee Only" or "Deliver to Addressee or Order." This service is available only for articles addressed to specific individuals by name.

(e) Firm mailing books. If three or more letters are mailed at one time, the sender may use mailing books, Form 3877a, which are furnished by the Postal Service without charge, or specially printed mailing bills. A series of numbers will be furnished the sender. The sheets of the book become the sender's receipts. If the sender wants the firm mailing bills receipted by the Postal Service, he must present the books with the articles to be mailed. He must also obtain at his expense a stamp for endorsing the certified letters, or he may have his envelope overprinted with the endorsement. The endorsement must be a facsimile or proportionate enlargement of the official endorsement shown in § 168.1. Following are instructions for use of firm mailing bills:

(1) Insert the word "Certified" in the space provided at the top of the bill.

(2) The mailer must endorse and number the letters. If return receipt or special delivery services are requested, mark the letters "Return Receipt Requested," "Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered," or "Special Delivery." Prepare and attach return receipt to the back of the envelopes with the receipt side showing.

(3) Show on the bill the number of each article and the name and address of addressee.

(4) Enter only the amount of fees paid for return receipts.

(5) Affix necessary postage to the articles.

(6) The accepting employee will count the items, postmark and receipt the bill for the total number, indicate time of mailing, if requested, and return the bill to the sender.

(7) A postmarked receipt marked "Bulk Receipt" will be issued if the quantity mailings do not check out; if they are not listed and arranged to permit issuance of a verified receipt; or if the sender desires only a bulk receipt.

§ 168.5 Delivery.

(a) Procedure. Mail for delivery by carriers is taken out on the first trip after it is received, unless the addressee has requested the postmaster to hold his mail at the post office. Certified mail not restricted in delivery will be delivered to the addressee or his authorized representative. Certified mail marked "Deliver to Addressee Only" will be delivered only to the person addressed. If marked "Deliver to Addresse or Order," delivery will be made to the addressee or to a person designated in writing by the addressee to receive the mail. Delivery rules are the same as for registered mail. See § 161.4.

(b) Rural delivery. For delivery by rural carriers or at personnel and nonpersonnel rural stations and branches, see Part 156.

(c) Star route delivery. Star route carriers will deliver certified mail if required by the contract, but delivery will be made only at the customer's box or along the route.

(d) Delivery records. The delivery records will be held for 2 years. At the end of that period the records will be destroyed.

(e) Notice of arrival. The carrier will leave a notice of arrival on Form 3849 if he cannot deliver the certified article for

any reason. The article will be brought back to the post office and held for the addressee. If the article is not called for or its redelivery requested, it will be returned at the expiration of the period stated by the sender, or after 15 days if no period is stated.

(f) Delivery at post office. Hold certified mail at a place convenient for the public to call if addressed for box or general delivery or for firm callers, or if a Form 3849 had been left for addressee to call. Place Form 3849, "Mail Arrival Notice," in post office box for lockbox patrons. Form 3883 will be used where firm or other customers receive an average of three or more certified letters at one delivery.

(a) Purpose of boxes. Post office boxes and drawers are for the convenience of the public. The service affords customers privacy and permits them to obtain mail at their convenience during the hours the lobby is kept open.

(b) How to rent a box—(1) Applications. The customer must submit Form 1093, "Application For Post Office Box," to the postmaster at the post office where the box is located. This form may be obtained from local postmasters. The application will be approved or denied by the postmaster. Furnishing false information on the application is sufficient reason for denial. When the application is approved, a box will be assigned.

(2) Known applicant. A box will be assigned immediately to a known qualified applicant upon submission of an application and payment of rent.

(3) Unknown applicant. Applications from unknown applicants must be treated as follows:

(i) The applicant must present his driver's license, military identification card, or other identification document.

(li) Postmasters will verify that the applicant resides or conducts business at the addresses shown, and that the applicant is served by the telephone number shown.

(4) Minors. Boxes may not be rented to minors if parents or guardians object.

(5) Insane persons. Boxes may not be rented to persons declared by a court to be of unsound mind.

(c) Conditions of use-(1) Individuals. An individual renting a box may have placed in it:

(i) Mail addressed to himself.

(ii) Mail directed to a temporary visitor.

(iii) Mail addressed to his care or to the number of his box by persons who wish him to take care of it for them not more than 30 days.

(iv) Mail addressed to members of his family.

(v) Mail addressed to employees who live in his house.

(vi) Mail addressed to a relative or other person who lives permanently in his house as do the other members of his family. Boarders or roomers are not considered members of the family.

(2) Firms or corporations. A firm renting a box may have placed in it:

(i) Mail addressed to its name.

(ii) Mail addressed to any of its officials and office employees.

(iii) Mail addressed to any member of a firm, or members of his family, by the consent of all members of the firm.

(3) Students and teachers. Mail addressed to students and teachers at an educational institution may be deposited in the box rented by the school, if consistent with the rules of the school.

(4) Public institutions. Mail addressed to inmates of a public institution may be deposited in the box rented by it, if consistent with its rules.

(5) Associations. An association or society may rent a box, but it may not be used for individual members, other than officers addressed by their official titles.

(6) Hotel or boarding house. Mail addressed to guests or transient boarders at a hotel or boarding house will be placed in the box assigned to it or its proprietor. (7) Mail addressed to box number. Mail addressed only to a box number may be delivered to the box holder as long as no improper or unlawful business is conducted in this manner.

(8) For forwarding. Boxes may not be rented when the sole purpose is to have mail forwarded or transferred, unless an agent of the addressee plans to remove the matter regularly.

(d) Restrictions on use—(1) Grounds for refusal to rent or renew. A postmaster shall refuse to rent or renew the rental of a box to any person if he has reason to believe that such person has falsified the application or has, within the previous 2 years, physically abused a box or violated any regulation or contractual provision relating to the care and use of a box, or is likely to use the box in connection with a scheme or enterprise in violation of this paragraph. An order of the Judicial Officer closing a post office box or affirming the refusal to grant an original or renewal application for such box shall bar the granting of any similar application wherever made, by or on behalf of the person involved, until such order has been revoked, amended or modified by the Judicial Officer.

(2) Appeal from refusal to rent or renew. Whenever the rental or renewal of a post office box is refused, the postmaster shall, upon written request made within 10 days, furnish the applicant with the reasons for such refusal in writing. Where the refusal to rent or renew is based in whole or in part upon the grounds specified in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, an appeal may be taken in the same manner and subject to the same time limitations as where a "Notice of Intent to Close A Post Office Box" has been issued under paragraph (e) (2) of this section.

(3) Misuse. Only matter which has passed through the mail, or official postal notices, may be placed in a post office box. (See paragraph (a) of this section.) Boxholders shall remove mail promptly from their boxes. If mail is to be accumulated for more than 30 days specific arrangements must be made in advance with the postmaster.

(4) Unlawful activity. No post office box may be used for or in connection with a scheme or enterprise which

(i) Violates any Federal, State, or local law;

(ii) Breaches an agreement with a Federal, State, or local agency whereby the boxholder has agreed to discontinue a specified activity; or

(iii) Violates or attempts to evade any order of a court or administrative body.

(5) Grounds for closing a box. A box may be closed whenever the boxholder has falsified the application for the box or has violated, or is violating, any of the regulations or contractual terms or conditions relating to its care and use.

(e) Procedures in closing a box; notice and hearing-(1) Duties of postmasters and postal employees. Postmasters or other postal officials who have reason to believe that any regulation or contractual provision governing the rental or use of a post office box has been or is being violated shall send a report of the facts together with any supporting documents to the General Counsel.

(2) Notice of intent to close a post office box. Whenever the General Counsel is in receipt of substantial evidence which he believes warrants the closing of a post office box, he may issue a "Notice of Intent to Close Post Office Box." Such notice shall state clearly the reasons for the contemplated action and inform the boxholder of his right to appeal this determination to the Judicial Officer, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260.

(3) Service of notice of intent upon boxholder. The "Notice of Intent to Close a Post Office Box" may be served on the boxholder by certified mail, with delivery restricted to addressee only, addressed to his post office box or other address. A return receipt therefor shall be obtained and forwarded immediately to the General Counsel. If restricted delivery cannot be made, the notice shall be deposited in the box for delivery as ordinary mail and shall constitute valid service. A post office delivery receipt, Form 3849, shall be filled out and sent to the General Counsel. Both the Form 3849 and the return receipt for the certified mail shall be endorsed to show that restricted delivery could not be made and that the notice was delivered as ordinary mail.

(4) Timely appeal. No appeal may be taken from a "Notice of Intent to Close a Post Office Box" issued under subparagraph (2) of this paragraph unless it is postmarked no later than 20 days after service of such notice.

(5) Failure to appeal; consequences. If no appeal is taken within 20 days after service of the "Notice of Intent to Close a Post Office Box," the box may be closed by order of the General Counsel without further notice to the boxholder.

(6) Disposition of mail. When a box has been closed pursuant to subpara

graph (5) of this paragraph or by order of the Judicial Officer, the postmaster shall notify the boxholder and transfer mail addressed to the box to General Delivery. The mail will be held at General Delivery for a period of 10 days following the notification to the boxholder, during which period he may claim his mail at General Delivery. If a Change of Address Order is received during this period, or any Change of Address Order is received prior to the effective date of this subparagraph, it shall be honored not to exceed the current time limitation for forwarding orders. At the end of this applicable period all mail addressed to the box shall be handled as undeliverable. However, this shall not preclude compliance with sender's request in accordance with § 122.3(b) of this chapter.

[35 F.R. 19478, Dec. 23, 1970, amended at 36 F.R. 1141, Jan. 23, 1971; 36 F.R. 1409, Jan. 29, 1971]

(a) Main post offices-(1) Office groups. The following nine groups are for use in determining the correct rate category for call and lockboxes at main post offices:

(1) Group A. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 17, 18, 19, or 20.

(ii) Group B. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 15 or 16.

(iii) Group C. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 13 or 14.

(iv) Group D. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 11 or 12.

(v) Group E. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 8, 9, or 10.

(vi) Group F. Post offices not offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 9, 10, or above.

(vii) Group G. Post offices not offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary level 8.

(viii) Group H. Post offices not offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 6 or 7. (ix) Group I. All fourth-class post offices. (2) Schedule. The quarterly box rent schedule for main post offices is as follows: